"The world is full of paper. Write to me." —Agha Shahid Ali, "Stationery"

Honoring the memory of a celebrated poet and a beloved teacher, the Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry is awarded annually and is sponsored by The University of Utah Press and The University of Utah Department of English. $1,500 Cash Prize and Publication from the Press; $500 and reading in The University of Utah's Guest Writers Series from The University of Utah Department of English.

Prize Submission Guidelines

Our prize money has been increased to $1,500 this year!

We are now on Submittable. Click here to submit electronically or copy and paste the following link: http://uofupress.submittable.com/submit/38647. Create a Submittable account and submit in PDF form.

Manuscripts must be in English and should be between 48 and 100 pages.

Manuscripts must be postmarked or submitted between February 1 through March 31, 2015. Early submissions are encouraged. If you desire proof of receipt, send the manuscript using a delivery confirmation service.

The nonrefundable reading fee of $25 will be paid during electronic submissions. If you choose to submit your manuscript via hard copy, a check payable to The University of Utah Press must be included with the submission or paid during electronic submission.

Manuscripts will not be returned and will be recycled after the competition.

Submitted poems may have appeared previously in journals, anthologies, or chapbooks, but the collection as a whole must be previously unpublished.

The competition is open to poets who have previously published book-length poetry collections, as well as to unpublished poets.

Current and former students of The University of Utah and of the finalist judge may not enter. Current and former employees of The University of Utah Press are not eligible for the prize. We support the CLMP Code of Ethics.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted; however, entrants must notify the Press immediately if the collection submitted is accepted for publication elsewhere during the competition.

All submissions should include a cover sheet providing complete contact information, including name, address, telephone, and email address. No other identifying information should be included on the title page or on the manuscript itself.

This year's judge is Linda Bierds. Check out her bio at poets.org here.

The winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize and the winning collection will be published by The University of Utah Press in the spring of 2016. The winner will give a reading in the University of Utah's Guest Writers Series, reading to take place during the fall or spring following publication. Travel and accommodations and an additional $500 honorarium are paid by The University of Utah Department of English.

If you would prefer not to submit online, please mail your submission to: